The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-13
THE SCALA SANTA.
The Most Interesting Relic In Rome-stairs
the Savior Trod.

the Savior Trod.
Roman Letter.
In the eastern extremity of the spacious
piazza in front of the Basilica san Giovanni
Laterano, says letter from Rome, stands
building not in itself particularly attractive, but
containing the most interesting or all Roman
relics-interesting especially to the Christian
and ANTIQUARIAN, and to every intelligent trav-
eler. A part OF this building is q convent. occu-
pied by Passionist fathers, but the portion best
known to the public Is that containing the Scala
Santa, or holy stairs. being flight of twenty
eight marble stsps removed from the house of
Piate at Jerusalem, and understood to have
been trodden by Christ when going to and from
the iudgm eur hall The stairs were brought to
Rome in the year 326 by the Empress sometimes
called St. Helena, mother of Constantine the
Great. and have been held in great veueration
over fifteen hundred years. At time they
stood Ia the old Lateran palace, having been re-
moved there from a building that suffered from
an earthquake in 897 Since the demolition of
:he old palace they have occupied their
present quarters These sacred steps may not
be trodden by foot OF man; they are only rever-
emily assembled the knees. By order OF Glenn
emit XII they were covered with wood for pres
ervation, leaving the front of each step visible
and openings in the boards, so as to allow the
marble steps to be seen in places where they are
supposed to show marks of the Saviors blood
The top step only il left uncovered, ard conse-
faithful devotees On all occasions these may
be seen slowly and reverently ascendlng-some
kissing the steps as they eo-but especially on
Fridays in Lent and more particularly Good
Friday the stairs are throneed Rlth pious pill
griuns some whose actions denote adoratlon Tor
the Savior; others, doubt. who make the as
boon of a thousand years respite from the pains
o. purgatory. At all events. it is one of the
most impressive religious exercises the writer
1t is reported of Martin Luther that he once
attempted the ascent of the Scala Santa, and
shat having reached midway to the top, he
turned and walked down under what he sup
posed to be heavenly guidance. At one period
= o stairs were used as place for the per-
iocmance OF public penance when penitents
IN eackcloth and ashes might be seen ascending.
heterogeneous minglng of humanity may
often be within these sacred precincts; the
peasant woman of the Campaena, dusty and
travel stained, though picturesque in costume;
the miserable object branded with the mendicant
mien. such guard the entrance of churches in
Rome and extract soldo for drawing back the
greasy upholstery doing duty for curtain on
the entrance of visitors. rubbing his tattered
garments against the velvet and furs of some
noble lady of patrician blood; again, soldier
showing the marks of having seen service, bear
ing his pin ned hat, adds his dark costume to
the group, while little innocents are led by their
mothers unconscious of the solemnity of the
environment.
Al the foot of the stairs on the right is a fine
group in marble by Gacometti, representing
Christ being betrayed by Judas on the opposite
side another by the same sculptor-the subject.
Ecce Homo. These statues were purchased and
placed by Plus TX. On each side the Scala
descend foot, and at the top. by looking
through grating, some OF the glories OF the
sancta sanctorum may be seem This chapel is
the only remaining part Of the old Lateran pal
ace OF such antiquity that it's origin is yelled in
mystery. It 10 known to have existed in the
sixth century, dedicated TO ST. Lawrence. and
was the private chapel of the medieval propus,
and is held so sacred that only pope off,
cIate At the altar. The chapel is only open
once a year, the morning before Palm Sunday,
when the canons of Lateran go there in solemn
procession to worship, bearing torches and
yelled crueifx. Even on this occasion none of
the laity allowed to enter. The interior is
gorgeous in the extreme The altar fills
q recess. and Is supported porphyry
pillars The edifice con tains many precious
relics mostly of ST. Andrew and st. Luke.
The relic of most Importance, portrait Of
Christ, said TO have been begun by ST. Luke,
whom tradition says was a painter we'll a
physician, and miraculousy completed in colors
by angel, hence its name, "Archeiro Opeton,"
or picture painted without hands, is preserved IN
d silver tabernacle above the altar. This paint
ing Is held in great reverence. On the Feast of
the Assumption il carried in great state
through the streets of the city. the procession
hating the steps of a church In the Forum.
where the ceremony of washing the feet of the
Pope was performed in perfumed water. On
another annual celebration the same Office
performed By the Pope the feet Of twelve
sub-deacons in the sancta sanctorum. Among
the relics preserved there are sandals supposed
to have belonged to the Savior, and some wood
of the true cross The latter, something rep
resentug it, lie to be found among most collec-
iions of the kind in Rome. There is also fine
representation Of Christ in mosaic in the style
of the ninth century.